There may have been few incidents on the roads this weekend in Christchurch - but police were still kept busy a little closer to home.

Canterbury police say wet weather forced many people to stay indoors, which resulted in fewer crashes and alcohol-related call outs to Christchurch's CBD.

But Senior Sergeant Roy Appley says yesterday police were kept busy with a long list of family harm related incidents.

He says it was an obvious spike compared to any other day

"Would I go as far as to say it was definitively related to the weather, I'm not so sure, but surely there must be a correlation as people are staying at home and there is an increase, it seems obvious that might be one of the reasons."

Appley says that there seem to be more family-related harm events than is normal at this of year.

He says that, sadly, it's either roading accidents or family harm that police are dealing with most regularly.

"In our business, it's one or the other. You seem to have an impact on one thing but another thing pops out the other side."

Appley says police would prefer family harm is reported, so at least then they can do something about it.